History’s Most Inbred Female Line

[Music] Throughout history, many royal families engaged in inbreeding to secure or expand their power, but none more so than the infamous house of Hapsburg. This led to one of the most imbred female lines in history, culminating in Maria Antonia of Austria, history's most imbred princess. Frail, short-lived, and the last of her line, her story is a climax of centuries of intermarriage. Alongside her deformed uncle, King Charles II, she marked the tragic end of Spain's Hapsburg dynasty. But to understand how Europe's most powerful family collapsed, we must rewind through the tangled web of Hapsburg history. The

mighty house of Hapsburg began in the rugged borderlands of Switzerland and Austria during the Middle Ages. As the years passed, the Hapsburgs began to conquer much of Europe, but not primarily through bloody wars. No. Well, They had mastered the art of marriage as power, forging alliances that allowed them to seize vast empires. By the late 15th century, they inherited the Spanish throne, becoming Europe's most unstoppable force, a family whose power knew no limits. In 1556, this huge empire was split by Charles V between two branches of his family, his brother Ferdinand and his son Philillip,

creating two royal powerhouses. The Austrian Hapsburgs, who ruled over Central Europe, and the Spanish Hapsburgs, who commanded an empire stretching from Madrid to the Americas. But their strategy for keeping power in the family came at a cost. They married each other again and again and again. This twisted tradition would lead to devastating genetic consequences, crippling their dynasty from within. There are countless figures we could begin with, and the imbreeding goes back centuries. But our story starts with Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain. for after her the marriages only became tighter, the genetics weaker, and the

fall ever more inevitable. Margaret of Austria was born on Christmas Day 1584 in the city of Grat in the Duchy of Styria in what is now southern Austria. Her father was Charles II, Archduke of Austria, and her mother was Maria Anna of Bavaria. Like many European royals, their bloodline was tangled with generations of cousin Marriages. But this union went even further. They were uncle and niece. And yet, against the odds of such close contanguinity, 12 of their 15 children survived into adulthood. Margaret the eighth child was born into a crowded and ambitious household surrounded by

older siblings already being groomed for greatness. Although Margaret held from the Austrian side of the family, she belonged to the Syrian branch of the Hapsburgs which was Not part of the senior line. A more powerful Habsburg line governed Austria as archdukes ruling from their stronghold in Vienna. The head of this senior line at this time was Rudolph II, an eccentric and peculiar man more interested in employing experimental artists and magicians at his court in Vienna than ruling the Hapsburg dominions. Yet his family line was thinning and Margaret's branch carried dangerous potential. So one day they

Might surpass their cousins and seize control in Vienna. That possibility made young Margaret, despite coming from a so-called junior line, a critical piece on the chessboard of Hapsburg power politics, as we will see. Growing up at the junior Hapsburg court and Gratz, she learned to speak and read Latin, the language of scholarship and Catholic worship across early modern Europe. Young court women were expected to master manners, fashion, dance, and Often music. Many like Margaret also wrote letters in Polish, German, Latin, Italian or English using ornate calligraphic script. This was how Margaret spent her youth. She

was also conscious of the politics of her time. The Hapsburgs presided over the Holy Roman Empire, a major elomeration of hundreds of small principalities and free cities that were only loosely tied together by loyalty to a Holy Roman Emperor. usually the senior member of The Austrian Habsburgs. For centuries, the Holy Roman Empire clung to a delicate illusion of unity. But that illusion shattered in 1517 when the Protestant Reformation ignited a firestorm of religious revolt. As Lutheran and Calvinist states broke away, centuries of imperial order began to crumble. Margaret was born into the chaos, an age

of rising tensions, deepening divisions, and a fractured empire on the brink. And soon her own Life would be drawn into the storm. When she was very young, thoughts turned to Margaret's potential marriage. No concept such as being a teenager existed in early modern Europe. You went from being a child to being an adult on the onset of puberty, typically around 13 or 14, which was widely seen as a dividing line between innocence and responsibility. Therefore, it was considered perfectly normal for a daughter of a royal line to Be married off as a diplomatic chess piece

when she reached this age. Of course, for royal women, marriage was rarely about love. And if you're a Hapsburg, it was almost certainly to a relative. To them, inbreeding wasn't taboo. It was strategy. Uniting the Austrian and Spanish branches wasn't risky. It was righteous. Power they believed was safest when bound by one thing, their realm blood. In Margaret's case, she might normally have been Married to a more minor noble. However, her cousin, Emperor Rudolph II, had never married despite a string of marriage negotiations over the years, and he would most likely be succeeded by his

brother Matias, who was also childless. Because of this, the reality was that the more junior branch of the House of Hapsburg was likely to succeed to become the ruling branch in Vienna one day with Margaret's brother Ferdinand potentially becoming the Holy Roman Emperor. For this reason, Margaret's hand in marriage became an important diplomatic tool in Europe's power politics. And so in the early months of 1599, Margaret arrived to Spain in a blaze of ceremony and expectation, destined to marry her cousin from the Spanish branch of the dynasty. This match was no scandal by the standards

of the day, but still striking. Philip III, newly in his 20s and already burdened with the weight of Kingship, was wed to a girl of just 14. With this union, Margaret didn't just become queen of Spain. She became the ceremonial empress of a global empire. By 1599, the Spanish crown had absorbed Portugal and its overseas riches, ruling vast stretches of the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. So when the 14-year-old Margaret wed Philip III in April 1599, she had with one ceremony become arguably the most powerful woman on Earth. But behind the glittering

facade of palaces and ceremony, what awaited her? A life of influence or one of isolation and duty? Philip III was on paper one of the most powerful men in the world. He had just inherited the Spanish and Portuguese crowns from his formidable father, Philip II, a stern and relentless ruler who had spent decades waging wars across Europe to crush Protestantism and restore Catholic dominance. Yet in doing So, he left behind a fractured, bankrupt kingdom. It was into this uneasy inheritance that the 14-year-old Margaret arrived. But at the same time, there is no doubt that she

had influence. Her husband, unlike his father, was indecisive and easily swayed, and she quickly began to exert quiet but growing influence. Her mission was clear to bend Spanish foreign policy toward the interest of her Austrian kin. Luckily for Margaret, her marriage to Philillip was close and affectionate, and it soon resulted in children. In fact, there was rarely a time when she was not pregnant for the remainder of her life. But this was no ordinary royal lineage. Both Margaret and her husband Philip III were born of Uncle Niece unions, making them some of the most imbred

individuals in European royal history. Their genes were tightly wound, the family tree more like a circle than a branch. Every child born To them was the result of centuries of closed bloodlines, and each pregnancy carried not just hope for the dynasty, but a risk of genetic collapse. Despite these odds, Margaret gave birth at least eight times, and remarkably, five of her children lived into adulthood. For a couple with such dangerously entangled DNA, the outcome was nothing short of a miracle. Yet even these surviving children carried the burden of their bloodline and the Genetic consequences became

clearer in the next generation. On the 22nd of September6001, Margaret gave birth to Heram Phillip's first child, a daughter named Anamaria Mauricia. Like her mother before her, Ana Maria was married off young, betrolled to King Louis the 13th of France at just 10 years old and wed in 1615 at 14 years old. Anamaria had a still birth and then four miscarriages before giving birth to two healthy boys Including Louis the 14th of France, Europe's most powerful absolutist king. More children followed from Margaret and Philip's marriage. A girl, Maria, sadly died just a month after she

was born in the spring of6003. Their two younger children, Margaret and Alons Maurice, also died in either infancy or childhood, but the middle children survived. The eldest boy was named Philillip after his father, and after his birth, the king showered Margaret with love and attention. Born in April6005, he would become King Philip IV of Spain one day. Another daughter, Maria Anna, born in6006, married Ferdinand III of the Austrian Hapsburgs. This was her first cousin, he being the son of Ferdinand II, Margaret's older brother. Maria Anna gave birth to six children, but only three survived into

adulthood. Finally, in6007, Margaret Gave birth to a boy named Charles and another son named Ferdinand in6009. Charles only lived to his mid20ies, but was a respected figure at the court, who was briefly considered as a potential future king when his older brother, King Philip IV, became severely ill at one time in the 1620s. Ferdinand as the youngest of the surviving sons entered the church and became a cardinal encouraged by his mother in his religion during his Earliest years whose Roman Catholic piety was well known. He also had a political career by serving as governor of

the Spanish Netherlands in what is now Belgium for a time. Philip III was far from the most decisive of monarchs. He was notoriously impressionable, easily swayed by courtiers and even his strong willed wife. This was significant. Spain still sat at top a vast wealthy empire. Yet decades of disastrous wars against the French, Dutch, English, and Turks had drained its coffers dry. In Madrid, a desperate circle of reformers now rose, demanding bold action to save what remained of Spain's fading glory. Margaret was not a good influence in this regard. Deeply conservative, she fiercely opposed any proposals

to cut spending on the church and royal ceremony. The result was catastrophic. Spain's economic situation continued to decline with the government going Bankrupt multiple times over in the course of Philip III's reign, just as it had under his father. At the heart of the Spanish court, a fierce power struggle erupted. A faction of court's roles in open opposition to Margaret, accusing her fanatical Catholic zeal of warping the king's judgment and dragging the empire into chaos. She clashed repeatedly with the Duke of Lurma, Spain's most powerful noble and the true ruler behind Philip III's feeble throne.

He begrudgingly respected her cunning and sharp political instincts, but there is also no doubt that he also deemed her to be a serious problem and tried to shut her out of power. For her part, Margaret formed an alliance with several other female members of the court. Though barred from official roles, they subtly shaped politics through personal connections, strategic council, and quiet persuasion, exercising real power from the shadows Of the royal household. Margaret's allies included Daaja Empress Maria, widow of Emperor Maxmillina II, who wielded influence at the Spanish court until her death in6003. More enduring, however,

was Margaret's alliance with Marie's daughter, Margaret of the Cross, a royal nun known for her piety and courtly connections. Together, the three Austrian Hapsburg women steered Philip III toward a fiercely pro-ostustrian, pro- Catholic policy. So When Margaret's brother Ferdinand II faced a Protestant revolt in Bohemia in 1618, sparking the 30 Years War, Spain swiftly backed Austria. Their shared goal was simple, to restore Catholic rule and Hapsburg supremacy across the fractured Holy Roman Empire. It was a fateful decision that would bleed Spain dry. The war dragged on for decades, and by the time Margaret's son, King

Philip IV, died in 1665, Spain was a ghost of its former glory, Completely overshadowed by England, France, and others. And the tragic cost of that downfall would be born by the next Hapsburg king. Ultimately, while Margaret succeeded in imposing a pro-Ostustrian policy on her weak-willed husband and outflanked the Duke of Lama in this regard, she would never live to see the fruits of that same policy realized. She died on the 3rd of October 1611 from complications brought about by childbirth after giving Birth to her son Alons Morris, who himself would die before his first birthday.

She was just 26 years of age at the time. King Phillip was devastated by her death and never remarried despite being only 33. He died 10 years later. Despite her short life, Margaret succeeded in shaping court politics and for now had secured the dynasty's succession. Nevertheless, as the 17th century wore on, the Hapsburgs doubled down on their deadly incestuous Tradition with uncle marrying niece generation after generation in a desperate bid to keep power pure. But the cost was catastrophic. Maria Anna of Spain was born at the Essoriel Palace north of Madrid in Spain on the

18th of August 16006. Her father was King Philip III of Spain, the powerful monarch who ruled the vast Iberian Empire from 1598. At the time, Spain was considered the preeeminent power in Europe, one which Ruled over large parts of Italy and the low countries and had an extensive colonial empire across the Americas, the Caribbean, and even in the Philippines. The Spanish court was consequently a place of vast riches, and young Maria Anna was raised in luxury, unimaginable splendor, but also suffocating royal duty. Maria Anna's mother was Margaret of Austria. Her father's first cousin once removed,

a match that was hardly unusual in the dangerously tangled Family tree of the Hapsburg dynasty. By the time Maria Anna was born, centuries of obsessive inbreeding had turned the Hapsburg bloodline into a genetic time bomb, riddled with overlapping ancestries and devastating health risks. On her father's side, she descended from King Philip II of Spain and his niece, Arch Duchess Anna of Austria, and on her mother's side, another Hapsburg Unquiece pairing, Charles II of Inner Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria. Maria Anna was Related to herself through multiple branches of the same twisted family tree. Yet,

remarkably, she showed none of the infamous Hapsburg deformities or afflictions, at least not outwardly. The worst was yet to come, though, and future generations wouldn't have the same luck. Maria Anna was the fourth of her parents' children. An older sister, Anna, would go on to become queen of France, while her older brother would become King Philip IVth of Spain in 1621. This came after their father died prematurely at 42 years of age after contracting a disease that remains uncertain to this day, though typhers or influenza are among the suspected causes. By the time her father

died, the issue of who Maria Anna would marry had been debated at the Spanish court for several years. With King Philip III gone, her brother, the newly crowned Philip IV, seized control of her fate. All lies turned to one controversial highstakes plan. the so-called Spanish match, a proposed marriage that would ignite fierce diplomatic battles, stir national outrage, and nearly unite two of Europe's greatest powers. The subject of Maria Anna's potential marriage turned into a major diplomatic affair in the politics of Europe in the 1620s. When she was still a child, there had been a plan

to marry her to her cousin, Archduke John Charles, a son of Ferdinand II, the future Holy Roman Emperor. But this fell through when John Charles died in 1618. At the time, Spain and France were locked in yet another clash for dominance, and it was now that a shocking proposal emerged, an alliance with England. Maria Anna was now planned to marry none other than Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was a Bold, almost unthinkable move, uniting two historic rivals through marriage. Yet, in the ruthless game of European

power politics, nothing was off the table. Thus began the infamous negotiations over the Spanish match, a royal gamble that would send shock waves through courts and kingdoms alike. These negotiations began in 1621 following the death of Philip III and the accession of Maria and his brother as King Philip IV. New councilors now ran the government in Madrid and they advised that the marriage alliance with England should be promoted. The talks dragged on for years, culminating in 1623 in a bizarre incident where Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham traveled to Spain in disguise to further

the negotiations. When they arrived at the Spanish court and revealed themselves, things seemed to go well at first, but then the talks broke down. Charles considered he had been treated poorly and left for England. When he returned, he brought back more than disappointment. He brought a diplomatic disaster. The marriage plans didn't just collapse. They imploded, trigger an outrage, scandal, and a chain reaction that led to allout war. By 1625, the Anglo Spanish war had begun, and it would drag on for five bloody years. King Philillip now needed to find a new husband for his little

sister, and he would find the perfect match within his Own family. With the collapse of negotiations over the Spanish match and the descent into war, the Spanish government now returned the idea of marrying Maria Anna to one of her many cousins. And so it was that in 1626, Maria Anna was betrothed to her cousin, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, the son and heir of Emperor Ferdinand II. He was also the younger brother of Archduke John Charles, who had once been proposed As a husband for Maria Anna before his untimely death years earlier. The marriage negotiations dragged

on for 2 years as points of conflict concerning the dowy and the succession rights in Spain continued. In the end, it was only late in 1629 that Maria Anner and her entourage finally left the Spanish court and set out for Vienna. The journey took well over a year, largely delayed by a devastating outbreak of the bubonic Plague in Italy, one of the worst the region had seen in early modern history. Before the wedding could take place though, Ferdinand, wary of the idealized portraits he'd received, decided to see his bride in secret. Only after this private

inspection did he agree to proceed with a marriage. Finally, on February 20th, 1631, Maria Anna married the future Emperor Ferdini in Vienna. At 24 years old, she was considered a fairly old royal bride, but she was Close in age to her new husband, who was just a year younger at 23 years old. Despite the political nature of the match, the marriage proved to be surprisingly warm and affectionate. Ferdinand was deeply devoted to his wife and remained faithful throughout their union, a rarity among royals of the era. Maria Anna's cheerful and lively nature balanced Ferdinand's more

solemn personality, bringing light to an otherwise serious court. But their Marriage unfolded against a grim backdrop, the brutal and unrelenting 30 years war which ravaged across Europe and left devastation in its wake. In order to understand how Maria Anna's life was lived in central Europe after her marriage to Ferdinand, we need to look at the conflict that was ravaging there in the first half of the 17th century. Germany had been divided over religion ever since the Protestant Reformation began in 1517. There had been intermittent wars between Catholics and Protestants amongst the dozens of major German

states throughout the 16th century. These had boiled over again in 1618 after the Protestants of Bohemia, a kingdom corresponding to modern-day Czecha, which the Hapsburgs ruled, had tried to resist efforts to reimpose Catholicism in Prague and other places. The Bohemian War expanded into the 30 years war in 1618 and 1619 as more and more German states joined the Conflict. Even as Maria Anna was at the center of negotiations with England over the Spanish match in the first half of the 1620s, the Hapsburgs had won victory after victory and were looking like achieving their goal of

imposing their authority over all of Germany. But then in order to avoid a Hapsburg victory, other major Protestant powers began intervening in the conflict. The Kingdom of Denmark got involved in 1625, followed by the Swedish intervention in 1629. As these Protestant powers intervened, their armies pushed the Hapsburg southwards from Germany back towards Austria and Bohemia. Entire cities were reduced to rubble and once secure lands collapsed in days. The war was closing in and soon it would reach even the royal Hapsburg family. By the time Maria Anna arrived in Austria, the war had already claimed the

lives of several hundred,000 men. But the worst impact Was felt by the civilian population. As farms were burned out and entire towns and cities were destroyed, everyday life was disrupted and famine developed in some places. It is estimated that anywhere between 4 and 10 million people died before the war ended, making this the most destructive war in the history of early modern Europe. Even within the gilded walls of the Hapsburg palaces, Maria Anna couldn't ignore the suffering Outside. The empire her new family ruled was being torn apart, and the horrors of war crept ever closer.

or while her husband deeply involved in the conflict was often away at the front. This wouldn't just haunt the world around her. It would come to define her entire life. From the moment she married, Maria Anna became queen consort of both Hungary and Bohemia. But her rise didn't stop there. In 1637, following the death of her Father-in-law, her husband was elected Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Anna ascended as Holy Roman Empress at one of the most critical moments in European history. Despite the fact that the French were broadly Catholics, they intervened in the war directly

from 1635 onwards to keep the Protestant German states alive in order to reduce the power of the Hapsburgs. As this happened, the Austrian Hapsburgs needed the help of their Spanish cousins more Than ever. Maria Anna was a vital point of contact between the Austrian Spanish governments, writing regularly to her brother, King Philip IV of Spain. She urged him to continue the war against the French and their allies and continue aiding the Austrian side of the family. With her husband frequently away leading military campaigns across Germany, Maria Anna became a central figure in the Austrian court.

Rather than relying on male ministers, Ferdinand entrusted her With real power, appointing her as regent on multiple occasions, a rare honor that spoke volumes about his trust in her judgment and political skill. But while she ruled in his absence, another royal duty loomed. One far more personal, far more perilous, and one that would end in heartbreak. Maria Anna was regularly pregnant after she married Ferdinand. Royal women were expected to try and have as many children as possible in late medieval And early modern times. One in three children died in infancy and others were claimed as

they grew older by diseases like measles and smallpox. The best way to secure the royal line was therefore to have as many children as possible and preferably multiple sons. The eventual heir to Ferdinand III was actually born within 2 years of his and Maria Anna's marriage. This was the future Ferdinand IV born in September 1633. Maria Anna's second child, a daughter Named Mariana after her mother, was born in December 1634, just 15 and a half months after Ferdinand. A second son, Philip Augustus, was born in 1637, but he died before reaching his second birthday. A

third son, Maxmillian, did not even reach his first birthday. Finally though, a healthy second heir was born in 1640. This child named Leopold would eventually succeed to the Hapsburg Domains in the late 1650s and would go on to become one of the longest reigning and most successful Hapsburg rulers in the family's nearly 900y yearlong history. As the 1640s went on, Maria Anna and Ferdinand most likely believed that Leopold would be their last child. Maria Anna, after all, was nearing her 40th year by the mid640s. So when Maria Anna unexpectedly fell pregnant again in late 1645,

it came as a shock, a final unexpected twist in an Already turbulent life. But this sixth and final pregnancy would not bring celebration. Maria Anna's final pregnancy would end in tragedy, in part because of the disordered state of Austria in 1646. The Swedish had gained the upper hand in the 30 years war with French aid and in the mid 1640s were advancing southwards into Bohemia and Austria. Maria Anna and her family were at a royal residence at Lintz when they received word of the Rapid advance of the enemy into lands which were previously considered beyond

the reach of the Swedish and the French and German allies. In a state of panic, the royal family fled to Vienna as enemy forces closed in. The pressure was immense. The court was in turmoil. The empire was crumbling at the edges. And Prague would eventually fall to the advancing Swedish army before the wars end. Amid this chaos and fear, Maria Anna became pregnant with her sixth Child. Then the unthinkable happened. The plague arrived to Vienna. The safest way to avoid the plague in those days was simply to escape from whatever city it arrived to and

take up residence in a country house away from other people. Maria Anna and her children consequently headed back to Lintz despite the dangerous military situation. Shortly after arriving there, she became ill. Her situation deteriorated over the next weeks that followed, and on the 12th of May 1646, she began to bleed heavily. The doctors realized that the best chance of the child surviving was to cut it out of her, a dreadful practice which was all too common in the early modern world. And so Maria Anna died from blood loss early on the 13th of May 1646,

aged 39. The child lived for only a few hours and they were buried together in the Hapsburg Imperial Crypt in Vienna. The 30 years war went on for two more years. Even when Maria Anna died in 1646, peace negotiations were well underway at West Failia and Osnnerbrook in the northwest of Germany. The Hapsburgs had to accept defeat and a principle was established that European states could no longer intervene in the affairs of other countries and principalities when it came to their religious affairs. Despite their love, Maria Anna's husband would marry twice more. But it was

the sons and daughters which he and Maria Anna had that would Go on to rule in Austria and to produce the future kings of Spain. Maria Anna was born on Christmas Eve 1634 in Vimmanoat just south of Vienna. Her father was Archduke Ferdinand of Austria the son of Ferdinand I the Holy Roman Emperor and one of the most powerful figures in central Europe. Maria Anna's father was also the king of Hungary and Croatia as part of the many titles which the Austrian Habsburgs had in the 17th century. Just 3 years after Maria Anna's birth, her

father would inherit the imperial throne. This meant that any children of Ferdinands would become important pieces in the marriage alliances which all of Europe's royal families engaged in at the time. Her mother, Maria Anna of Spain, was the daughter of King Philip III of Spain, making Maria Anna the product of two of Europe's most dominant royal families. But their union was more than just a strategic marriage. It was a marriage of Blood. Maria Anna's parents were closely related cousins, part of the Habsburg dynasty's obsessive practice of inbreeding to keep power within the family. This relentless

intermarriage would shape Maria Anna's destiny in ways no one could predict. As we will soon see, the cost of this royal tradition would be far greater than anyone could have imagined, leading to shocking and devastating consequences for Maria Anna's life. Maria Anna grew up and was educated in Austria during a time of war. Her father was deeply involved in a brutal conflict that had raged since 1618, the infamous 30 Years War, and he was determined to bring it to an end. By 1645, as peace negotiations gained momentum, attention shifted to Maria Anna's future, more specifically

to her marriage, a crucial piece in the Grand Chessboard of Hapsburg alliances. The plan was clear. She would marry a Spanish prince. The man in question was Balthasar Charles, Prince of Atorius Anjerona. He was the only son of King Philip IV of Spain from his first marriage to Elizabeth of France, who had died in 1644. But there was one glaring issue. Besar Charles was Maria Anna's first cousin, the son of her mother's brother. Still, for the Hapsburgs, such close blood ties were hardly a problem. By 1646, an Agreement was reached. Once Maria Anna came of

age in a couple of years, she would marry Balasar, who was 5 years older. Then fate intervened. In October 1646, just weeks after their betroal, Balthazar Charles fell ill. He died soon after, possibly from smallpox just days before his 17th birthday. The engagement was shattered and Spain was suddenly left without an heir. This created a crisis for Philip IV, a widowerower with No male successor. He faced immense pressure to secure the dynasty. His solution, a shocking proposal. Since Balthazar could no longer marry Maria Anna, Philip would marry her himself. Incredibly, the arrangement was agreed to.

The wedding had to be delayed due to Maria Anna's young age, but on October 7th, 1649, she married her uncle in a church outside Madrid. She was just 14 years old. He was 44. Maria Anna did her best to adjust to Life in Madrid. And at just 14 years old, she was now queen consort of the largest empire on Earth. Spain's dominion stretched across the Americas, the Philippines, and vast territories beyond, making it a true global superpower. Her husband, Philip IV, was known at court as Ray Planeta, the planet king, a grand title symbolizing his

empire's reach across the world. Thrust into the heart of Spanish royalty at such a young age, Maria Anna had no Choice but to adapt quickly. She mastered Spanish, navigated the complex court politics, and prepared herself for a far greater role. Though she was Philip's wife, she would eventually become the real power behind the throne. Maria Anna and Philip's marriage soon resulted in children. Their first child, Margaret Theresa, was born in 1651, and her fate mirrored her mother's in an eerie act of donastic repetition. Tragedy then struck as two of her Children, Maria Ambrosia and Ferdinand

Thomas, died in infancy. Maria Anna and Philip had two other sons, Philip Prospero, born in 1657, and Charles or Carlos, born in 1661. But misfortune struck again. Philip Rosber died in 1661, leaving only Charles as the last hope for the Spanish throne. Then in 1665, Maria Anna's world changed forever. Philip IVth, her husband and uncle, died, leaving behind a broken empire and A fragile air. Charles, just shy of his fourth birthday, became king. But Spain's future was anything but secure. and Maria Anna was about to take center stage in one of the most turbulent periods

of its history. It was clear from the start that Carlos, better known to history as King Charles II of Spain, would not be able to rule on his own for many years. At just 4 years old, he was far too young to govern. And even when he came of age, His court would be dominated by powerful nobles well into his late teens. With Spain in desperate need of leadership, a swift decision was made. Maria Anna would serve as regent during her son's minority. In essence, she became the de facto ruler of Spain, the substitute monarch

until Charles could take the throne in his own right. But ruling Spain as a female regent in one of the most deeply patriarchal courts in Europe was no easy task. Though she held the Title of regent, her authority was constantly challenged by senior Spanish nobles who wielded immense influence in the years that followed. Maria Anna faced an immense challenge as regent. Spain had once been the world's greatest superpower, its empire expanding across the Americas, fueled by the seemingly endless gold and silver from the mines of Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. But by the 17th century, those

riches were running dry, and Spain's political stagnation, Economic troubles, and domestic unrest were becoming impossible to ignore. Now, it failed to Maria Anna to reverse Spain's decline, all while managing constant wars that drained resources and morale. One of the longest running conflicts was the war with Portugal, which had been under Spanish rule since 1580, but had rebelled in 1640. By the time Maria Anna took power, it was clear the war was unwinable, especially since France and England were Backing the Portuguese. Influenced by her Jesuit adviser, Cardinal Juan Evardonard, Maria Anna made a bold decision. Spain

would cut its losses. In 1668, she signed both the Treaty of Exappelle and the Treaty of Lisbon, ending the war with France and Portugal and officially recognizing Portugal's independence. But Spain's troubles were far from over. Just 4 years later, war broke out again. This time with France. The reason? Spain still controlled the Spanish Netherlands, modern-day Belgium and Luxembourg. and King Louis the 14th of France was determined to seize it for himself. Thus, the struggle for Spain's survival was far from over. As dire as Spain's international struggles were, they were nothing compared to the crisis unfolding

at home. As he grew up, it was clear that King Charles II, Maria Anna's only surviving son, was not well. Historians and medical experts still debate what Exactly afflicted Charles, but the records paint a grim picture. His body never fully developed. He could barely walk unaded, had such an extreme Hapsburg jaw that he struggled to chew food properly, and his mental faculties were severely impaired. He aged prematurely, showing dementia-like symptoms in his 20ies, and even started going bald around this time. To his contemporaries, he was known as Elrai Sado, the bewitched king, as many Believed

his countless physical and intellectual issues were the result of sorcery. But the real cause for concern was more sinister. Charles's condition was likely the result of severe inbreeding, which had weakened the Habsburg bloodline over generations. He likely suffered from a combination of genetic disorders, including hormonal deficiencies, epilepsy, skeletal deformities, and more. This was no coincidence. Maria Anna had married her own uncle, and both came from a dynasty that had intermarried for centuries. Charles's imbreeding coefficient, a measure of how genetically similar one's parents are, was shockingly high. In fact, some estimates suggest that his genetic makeup

was as inbred of that of a child born to siblings. Other theories put forward by modern researchers as the cause of his condition include one or more autotosomal recessive disorders and A herpetic infection incurred as an infant causing hydrophilis which is an excessive accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain. By the 1670s, it became undeniable. Charles would never be able to fully rule Spain by himself. Already struggling on the world stage, Spain now faced an even greater nightmare, an empire ruled by a king who could barely function. Charles was deemed to have come of

age in 1675 when he turned 14 years old and His mother's long tenure spell as regent came to an end. However, court factional fighting and Charles's clear inability to rule for himself saw Maria Anna orchestrate an arrangement whereby the regency was reestablished in 1677. Maria Anna's return to power was short-lived though. She was outmaneuvered when John Joseph of Austria, the illegitimate son of the late King Philip IV, and thus Charles II's half-brother, seized control of the Regency. Yet he only held power for two years before his death in 1679. With Jon's death, she reclaimed the

regency, once again becoming the most powerful figure in Spain. This time, she would hold onto power for the rest of her life. One of Maria Anna's greatest concerns during the Second Regency was securing the future of the Spanish monarchy. Charles II was physically and mentally unfit to rule. But perhaps he Could fire an heir who might restore the dynasty. Determined to ensure this, she arranged for her son to marry Marie Louise Dolon, the niece of King Louis the 14th of France in 1679. The marriage was miserable for Marie Louie, and worse still, it produced no

children. After years of suffering in a foreign court, she died in 1689, likely from a birth appendix, though some whispered rumors of poison. Determined to secure an air, Maria Anna Arranged for Charles to remarry within months. His second wife, Maria Anna of Noberg, was the daughter of a German noble chosen for her family's reputation for fertility. Well, her parents had 17 children. But it was all in vain. Charles remained without an heir. These years were very difficult for Maria Anna. She was constantly anxious about Spain's decline, her son's condition, the Hapsburg dynasty, and frequently argued

With her daughter-in-law. By the early 1690s, it was painfully clear that Charles would never produce a child. His health worsened rapidly and many at court believed his death was imminent. Maria Anna, however, would not live to see his final days. In the mid690s, she developed what appears to have been breast cancer. After years of political struggle and failed efforts to secure Spain's future, she died in Madrid on May 16th, 1696 at the age of 61. Infanta Margarita Dresa or Margaret Theresa in English was born in the royal Alcazar Palace in Madrid on the 12th of

July 1651. Her father was King Philip IV. He had been the ruler of Spain since 1621 after ascending to the throne when he was just 15 years old. Margaret's mother was Mariana or Maria Anna of Austria, a daughter of Ferdinand III, Duke of Austria, and Holy Roman Emperor. Margaret Theresa's parents weren't just distant relatives. They were far closer than anyone should be. Her father was from the Spanish branch of the family, her mother from the Austrian side, but their connection ran much deeper. Because in a shocking display of royal imbreeding, they were uncle and niece.

The disturbingly close blood ties between Margaret's parents came at a cost. Of their five children, three died in infancy. Only two survived. Margaret And her younger brother, Carlos, known as Charles in English. But survival didn't mean salvation. Charles was a walking testament to the horrors of inbreeding. In fact, Margaret and Charles's inbreeding coefficient was grotesqually high, with some estimates suggesting they were as inbred as children born to siblings. Margaret may have been luckier, but she wasn't completely unaffected. Though much healthier than her brother, She carried the Hapsburg curse in her own way. As we will

see, Margaret was raised in the grandeur of the royal Alkazar palace, a world of opulence where every was catered to by an army of maids and servants. For example, the infanta frequently indulged in sweets and chocolates which you had to hide from the court physicians. Yet beneath the luxury lay the suffocating constraints of the Madrid court, where every movement, every word, every glance Was dictated by unyielding royal etiquette. As a princess of the mighty Hapsburg dynasty, she received the finest education money and power could provide. She was taught multiple languages, versing herself in German to

better converse with her Habsburg cousins from the Austrian side of the family, and learn some Latin, the sacred language of scholarship and the Roman Catholic Church. But no education could prepare her for the fate that awaited Her. As Margaret grew older, she couldn't ignore the glaring age gap between her parents. Well, her father was nearly 30 years older than her mother. But if that detail disturbed her, she never showed it. Age differences aside, her parents adored her. She was their prized jewel, the only truly healthy child their union had produced, and they shelled her with

affection. With her delicate features and lively spirit, Margaret captivated Those around her. She was their little angel, a nickname whispered with adoration by family and friends alike. Perhaps that's why her parents commissioned one of Europe's greatest painters to immortalize her in a stunning portrait when she was just 5 years old. A portrait that would become one of the most famous paintings in history. Velasquez's painting was once known as La Familia, the family. Today it is Called Lasmanas, which means the ladies in waiting. This is a more appropriate title as it depicts Margaret being waited on

by several household staff who are fixing her dress. Among the many figures captured in the painting, another stands out, Marie Barbola, a courtier with dwarfism. In an era when those with her condition were often reduced to mere entertainment for the nobility, Velasquez did something radical. Instead of simply portraying Her as a joke, he gave her depth, dignity, and a piercing gaze that suggests a complex inner world. Even Velasquez himself appears in the masterpiece, a silent observer of the lavish yet rigid world of the Spanish court. Other people are seen in paintings and mirrors in Lasmanz,

including Margaret's parents. And this wasn't the only famous painting of Margaret either. Velasquez painted no less than five portraits of the princess In her youth, immortalizing her prettiness and royal elegance. In fact, she was one of the most painted young people in all of early modern Europe, crafting her image of power and prestige. Though this would contrast with a sad destiny that awaited her. It might seem hard to fathom to modern minds, but by the time lasinas was painted in 1656 when Margaret was just 5 years old, there was already a growing discussion at the

Spanish court about Who she would marry. In the ruthless world of royal politics, marriage was never about love. It was about power. Emotions and personal desires meant nothing when dynasties were at stake. As the daughter of the king of Spain, Margaret wasn't just a princess. She was a highstakes chess piece in the brutal game of European diplomacy. Her future decided long before she even understood it. For instance, at one point there was a suggestion that she could marry Charles Stewart of the English royal family. He was restored to the English throne as King Charles II

of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1660 after England had briefly experimented with being a republic in the 1650s. A marriage of this kind would have been used to form an unlikely alliance with the English at a time when France and Spain were bitter rivals for dominance of Western Europe. In the end, Charles instead married Katherine of Banza, a Portuguese bride. in 1662. The collapse of negotiations for Margaret to marry Charles Stewart was primarily owing to King Phillip's opposition. Instead, he believed that his daughter should marry a member of the Austrian side of the Hapsburg family.

He seemed to show no concern whatsoever that this marriage would deepen the family's inbreeding. After all, it was simply how the Hapsburggs kept power in their grip. As for Margaret, she had no say in her fate. When negotiations between Madrid and Vienna began, she was likely blissfully unaware of the shocking consequences this union would bring. She was still just 11 years old when it was announced at the royal court that she would marry Leopold of the House of Hapsburg. Like her mother before her, Margaret was now destined to continue the incestuous Hapsburg tradition and was

going to marry a very close family member, a man Who was both her first cousin and her uncle. Liupold was her mother's younger brother and had succeeded to become Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia, and the Holy Roman Emperor in quick succession in the late 1650s. Even in early modern Europe, there were some standards around when a child was old enough to marry. Margaret was betrothed to her uncle early in 1663, but she was deemed to be too young for The marriage to take place at that time. Instead, it was not until

April 1666, by which time she was nearing her 15th birthday, that Margaret set off from Madrid to travel to Vienna. A six-month tour followed, and the Spanish royal party only arrived in Vienna in December 1666. The marriage ceremony took place a few days later on the 12th of December. It was a magnificent event attended by many of Europe's most powerful royals and Dignitaries with no expense spared. And the grandeur didn't end there. Celebrations raged on throughout 1667. Yet behind the splendor, a dark fate was already unfolding. Life in Vienna was peculiar and sometimes difficult for

Margaret. To begin with, she and her new husband had a strange marriage. It might surprise modern ears to hear this, but they didn't try to ignore their close blood relationship. She actually called him Uncle. Despite this unorthodox situation, they did get along. They enjoyed some of the same pursuits, including art and music. And Liupole did his best to make sure Margaret was comfortable in her new surroundings. It was also common for royals like Margaret when they left their homeland to go and marry a foreign ruler or prince to bring along members of their old household

staff. So, she would have had some familiar faces around her at the court In Vienna as she acclimatized to her new life. Perhaps there were even some of the people who had been there in Madrid when Velasquez was painting Las Maninas many years earlier. Despite this, Margaret remained deeply homesick, clinging to her Spanish roots and doing little to improve her German. As time passed, her once delicate beauty began to fade, her complexion grew paler, her features more fatigued, and the characteristic Hapsburg jaw became more Pronounced. The marriage was troubled in other ways, too. Margaret became

pregnant almost immediately after arriving in Vienna and gave birth to a boy named Ferdinand in September 1667. He only survived for 3 and 1/2 months though and died in January 1668. Their luck seemed to change with the birth of their next child, a daughter, Maria Antonia, born in January 1669. She would be the only one of Margaret's children to survive. Two others were not So fortunate. A son, John Leopold, was born on the 20th of February, 1670, but tragically died within hours. Another daughter, Maria Anna, lived just 2 weeks before passing away in February 1672.

And this devastating pattern was a sign of things to come. Margaret's difficult series of pregnancies were partly owing to her own health problems. Although she had been a much healthier child than her brother, she did have Some growing health issues in the years leading up to and following her arrival in Vienna. When she arrived to the Austrian capital late in 1666, people there quickly began commenting on her frequent illnesses. For a time, many observers put this down to the constant strain of pregnancy. In just 6 years, she endured six pregnancies, including four live births and

two miscarriages, each leaving her weaker and more depressed than before. But as time Passed, it became clear that something more sinister was at play. Margaret was often confined to her bed, even when she wasn't pregnant. Physicians diagnosed her with an enlarged thyroid gland, but in the 17th century, there was no cure, and her condition only worsened. Things really went downhill for Margaret in the early spring of 1673. She had a 3-w weekl long attack of stomach pains. Then she developed a fever. There are documents that were Written by foreign ambassadors at the court at Vienna

at this time which indicate that many were seriously concerned that she would die. By early March, she had difficulties breathing. And on the 10th of March, a confessor was called in to hear her last confession and give her the sacrament. Just 2 days later, on March 12th, Margaret died at the tender age of 21. An autopsy revealed a heartbreaking truth. She was carrying another baby boy At the time of her death. Her life, cut tragically short, ended in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna, where she was laid to rest. The death of the Arch Duchess and

Holy Roman Empress resulted in a lengthy morning period at the Austrian court. The funeral services stretched on for weeks into April. Liupold was devastated by his wife's untimely death. However, this didn't stop him marrying again by the end of the year. His new wife was Arch Duchess Claudia Felicitas of Austria, a member of the Tiles branch of the Hapsburgs. But for Leopold, the marriage wasn't about love. It was about survival. The donastic game had to continue and more rares were desperately needed, preferably male, to ensure the Hapsburg's reign could endure. After Margaret's death, her rights

to the Spanish throne were passed to her only surviving daughter, Maria Antonia. Maria Antonia of Austria was born on the 18th of January 1669 in the Hofberg Palace in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Her father was Leopold I, a very powerful man. He was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia. Her mother was Margaret Theresa of Spain, a daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, and Mariana of Austria. As I've mentioned throughout, the Hapsburgs liked to keep it in the family, second cousins, first cousins, even uncles and nieces. And these centuries of relentless

inbreeding culminated in Maria Antonia. She wasn't just the product of one unfortunate match. She was the result of generation after generation of uncle niece marriages compounding the dynasty's genetic decay. Of course, her parents were uncle and niece, too. All of this meant that Maria Antonia was the most imbred Hapsburg of all time, surpassing even her infamous uncle Charles II of Spain. She had such a high inbreeding coefficient that she was more Inbred than a child born from a parent offspring or brother sister union. So what did this mean for Marie Antonia? Would she suffer the

same tragic fate as Charles II? or had she somehow escaped the curse of her family's obsession? Miraculously, Maria Antonia was born healthy and was a relatively normal child, defying expectations given her extreme inbreeding. But she was the exception, not the rule. As the second child of her parents' deeply incestrous Marriage, she was the only one to survive past infancy, likely a result of the centuries of inbreeding that had weakened her bloodline. Her parents' first child was a boy named Ferdinand, who died a year before Maria and Tony was born. Two other children, John and Maria

Anna, were born in 1617 1672. Sadly, they both passed away as well within hours or days of being born. Then, to make matters worse, her mother, Margaret Theresa, a frail and sickly Woman, died in March 1673 at just 21 years old. The years of inbreeding had taken their toll, and like so many Habsburgs before her, she was physically weak and plagued by poor health. Maria Antonia was left motherless at just 4 years old and as the only surviving child of her parents' deeply imbred union she was suddenly thrust into a precarious position. She was a

potential heir to the Arch Duchy of Austria but only until her father Remarried and produced a male heir. Austria had never had a female ruler and no one was even sure if the law would allow it. If Leopold died unexpectedly, would the nobles accept a female ruler or would Austria plunge into chaos? And Maria Antonia wasn't just a possible heir to Austria. She also had a strong claim as successor to the Spanish throne, placing her at the center of one of the most powerful and unstable dynasties in Europe. Maria Antonia might have been the most

imbred Hapsburg of all time, but it was her uncle Carlos, known as Charles II of Spain, who had suffered most from it. As mentioned before, Charles inherited the Spanish throne in 1665, just before his 4th birthday. He would never be able to rule by himself, though, and constantly needed advisers and proxies who ruled on his behalf. As a result, there was constant talk of the succession in the courts of Europe. With her mother's Death in March 1673, Maria Antonia became the legitimate heir to her uncle, King Charles II of Spain. Though just 11 years old

at the time, Charles's frail health and severe disabilities left many to wonder if he could even father a child. This made Maria Antonia the presumed future queen of Spain, destined to inherit not just the Spanish throne, but its vast empire stretching across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. And given Charles's Deteriorating condition, that day could come much sooner than anyone expected. As a result of all of this, Maria Antonia lived her life under a microscope. Diplomats scrutinized her actions when they visited the court at Vienna and her father sought to promote the idea that she would

one day succeed Charles. This resulted in a lot of Hapsburg propaganda. Maria Antonia sat for numerous portraits in her youth, a common practice for Royals. Her father used these paintings to promote her claim to the Spanish throne, sending them across Europe and to Spain to make her visible to the people and solidify her status. This was necessary because she was a woman. Had there been a male heir to the Spanish throne living in Vienna, there would have been no need for propaganda efforts like this. But the fear of female rule ran deep, and the idea

of a woman inheriting Spain's vast empire was Enough to send shock waves through Europe's courts. As Maria Antonia grew up in Vienna, she remained blissfully unaware of the political storm surrounding her. While the great powers of Europe debated her fate, she was raised like any highborn Hapsburg princess, wrapped in courtly formality, and surrounded by attendance catering to her every need. Her education was fitting for a royal woman of her time, Latin, French, music, and Basic elements of the humanist curriculum. Those who met her described her as quiet and serious, yet intelligent and distinguished. But after

her mother's death, life became even more rigid. That being said, Maria Antonia did have a quick succession of stepmothers. Within months of his wife's death, Leopold married his second cousin, Arch Duchess Claudia Felicitas of Austria, a member of the Tiles branch of the Hapsburgs. Maria Antonia had a good and close relationship with her stepmother, but she too died young in 1676 of tuberculosis. Leopold then married a third wife, a German noble woman who was also his second cousin, Eleanor Magdalene of Noberg. She and Leopold would have 10 children. So almost every year, Maria Antonia would

have a new half sibling. When a boy named Joseph was born of this third marriage in 1678, It meant that there was finally a male heir to Leopold's titles. Now Maria Antonia was only the heir to the Spanish throne. Though as we have seen the question of whether she would succeed Charles in Madrid remained problematic. Of course there was always another possibility. Maria Antonia could produce a son of her own, a Habsburg prince who would be the perfect male heir to claim the Spanish throne. Her father ever the strategist was already plotting this Future while

she was still just a child. Knowing that a male successor could secure Spain for their bloodline once and for all. To secure the Spanish throne, Leopold made a shocking proposal. He intended to marry his six-year-old daughter, Maria Antonia, to her own uncle, 13-year-old Charles II of Spain. Even in a family notorious for inbreeding, this match was surprising. Not just because they were uncle and niece, but because neither was Ready for marriage. Charles hadn't even reached puberty, and Maria was far too young to bear children. Despite this, in 1676, their engagement was formally announced, and a

proxy wedding was planned for December. But at the last moment, it all fell apart. The following year, Charles informed Leupold that he couldn't go through of it. Spain needed an heir and his niece was simply too young. In the end, Charles II married Marie Louise Dolon in 1679, seemingly closing the door on Maria Antonia's chance to become queen of Spain. In its place, a new plan emerged. She was to marry Victor Amadees II, the young Duke of Zavoi, who had inherited his title at just 9 years old in 1675. But this match never materialized. Instead,

in 1685, Maria Antony was wedded to her second cousin, Maxmillian II, Prince Elector of Bavaria. At just 16, she left Vienna Munich, beginning a new life with her husband. Before long, Maximleian was appointed governor of the Spanish Netherlands, and the couple spent much of their time in Brussels. In Munich and Brussels, Maria Antonia was immensely unhappy. On the surface, the marriage match was not a bad one. Maxmleon was only a few years older than her, and they were distant enough relatives to somewhat lessen the Hapsburg in breeding. But there were Other problems. He was a

social extrovert and she was a studious introvert who disliked court ceremonies. Maxmillian often treated her with a disregard and a contemporary even referred to him as one of the most perverse minds and hearts that one can imagine. Maximleian wasted no time betraying his young wife, openly parading his mistress, while Maria Antonia endured the cold, loveless marriage she had been forced into. Yet Her greatest suffering came not from her unfaithful husband, but from her own cursed bloodline. Like so many of her tragically imbred ancestors, she struggled with pregnancy, and two of her sons were lost at

birth in 1689 and 1690. By 1691, Maria Antony was done. Pregnant once more and unwilling to endure Maximillian's humiliations, she fled to Vienna, leaving behind her faithless Husband. Rumors now swelled that she had no intention of returning to him. Then in October 1692, against the odds, she gave birth to a healthy son, Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria, the child who could change the course of European history. But Maria Antonia's battle for survival, was far from over. The Spanish court erupted with joy at the birth of Joseph Ferdinand, the long- aaited heir. But this moment of triumph

Came at a devastating cost. His mother's life. Maria Antonia suffered from a postpartum infection, a condition that today could be easily cured with antibiotics. But in the 17th century, there was no such salvation. The body either fought off the infection or succumbed to it. As the weeks passed, her fever raged and her strength faded. By December, it was clear that she was losing the battle. Then, on Christmas Eve 1692, at just 23 Years old, Maria Antonia took her final breath, leaving behind her infant son, Joseph Ferdinand, the fragile hope for Spain's future. But with the

succession still uncertain, Europe's great powers were already watching and waiting. Maria Antonia's death cast wide open the issue of the Spanish succession. It was clear by then that her uncle Charles could not have children and his health was dreadful. Contemporaries expected him to die every year throughout the 1690s, though in the end he struggled on until late 1700. In the years following Maria Antonia's death, the Austrian Habsburgs fought fiercely to cement their claim to the Spanish throne and its vast empire. Their argument, Maria Antonia's son, young Joseph Ferdinand, was the right fair. After all, he

wasn't just any claimant. He was the great grandson of King Philip IV, who had ruled Spain from 1621 to 1665, Making his bloodline one of the strongest ties to the fading Spanish dynasty. Most observers at the Spanish court agreed that Maria's son was the most eligible candidate to succeed Charles when he died. However, the French royal house of Borbin also had a claim. Philip IVth's daughter, Maria Theresa, had married Louis the 14th, King of France, back in 1660, a marriage that led to many children and grandchildren. Of these grandchildren Was a boy named Philillip, the

great grandson of King Philip III of Spain, who had ruled way back at the start of the 17th century. He might have been overlooked entirely if not for tragedy. In 1699, Maria Antony's only surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand, died of smallox, the deadliest disease of the era. With his death, the Austrian Hapsburg's claim to the Spanish throne crumbled, forcing them to shift their ambitions to one of Leopold's younger sons, Charles, who would soon become the new contender for Spain's vast empire. On November 1st, 1700, Charles II, the bewitched king, died at just 38 years old. As

an his second marriage had produced no children, and with his death, the Spanish Hapsburg dynasty came to an end. On his deathbed, Charles made a fateful decision. He named the French candidate Philillip as his heir, ensuring Spain would align with France. But this Sparked outrage across Europe. The Austrians backed by England and the Dutch refused to accept this and within months the continent was engulfed in war. Thus in 1701 the brutal war of Spanish succession began. A 13-year struggle that drew in nearly every major European power. In the end, the French candidate prevailed and Philip

V took the Spanish throne, but with a catch. Spain and France were forbidden from uniting under a single crown. Meanwhile, The Austrians were compensated with Spain's vast European holdings, including Belgium, Milan, Naples, and Sardinia. Had Maria Antonia or her son lived, the succession might have been far less chaotic. and history very different. Thank you so much everyone for watching this video on this line of imbred princesses and the most inbred line or one of the most inbredad lines in history. I hope you found it Interesting. Let me know what you thought of the video down

below in the comments. And if you want more long videos like this or on inbredad topics, also let me know down below in the comments. I hope you guys are subscribed and have notifications turned on to get all my videos as soon as I upload them. Anyway, that's all from me. So, I'll see all of you in the next Forgotten Life.